Death or Glory Racing: October 2007

OK I am just puttin it out there...

The basics of the race
Teams of two
9 Days
1000 Racers
900 K (560 Miles)
16000 M (53000 feet) of climbing
Much of the route is on private land and is only opened to mountain bikers once a year for the Absa Cape Epic. Daily stages are typically between 80 and 140km. There is always a combination of single track, rugged jeep tracks and fast flowing gravel roads, and as little tarred road as possible.
OK Here is the cost break down for the Cape epic.
Basic Package

Standard Entry Package: R13 500 per Team (R6 750 per Rider) $2100 per team ($1050 per person)

The entry fee includes:

Accommodation in the Absa Cape Epic race village (7 nights starting on Saturday night after stage 1 to Friday night after stage 7. Please note, accommodation in Knysna on Friday night is NOT included.)
Dinner and breakfast in the race village from Saturday dinner after stage 1 to Saturday breakfast before stage 8.
Nutrition at watering points
Race medical services (free on-site basic treatment)
Race finisher's dinner and party at Moyo (Spier)
Participant T-shirt
Official finisher T-shirt (only to official finishers)
Absa Cape Epic rider bag
Transport of personal luggage to each stage
Transport of bike box/bag from Knysna to Lourensford

Premium Packages 17,800 R in addition to entry free. Total of 31,300 R ($4810 per team, $2400 per person)

The premium upgrade option is for those teams that would prefer a few more luxuries than our Absa Cape Epic tented race village offers. Premium package riders receive enhanced services at the race, including hotel/guest house accommodation, personal baggage assistance, personal massage services, etc. The number of premium packages is limited by accommodation available in the stage towns each year. The premium package is priced as an upgrade fee that is added to the normal entry fee. It is available for purchase in our online shop for teams that are officially registered.

This is what you get in addition to the normal entry package:

6 nights in Hotel/Guest House/B&B, and a choice between 1 night in the race village or travel 20km to accommodation outside of town due to lack of accommodation. Please note: accommodation in Knysna on Friday night is NOT included.
Dinners in the Absa Cape Epic race village
1 Dedicated masseur per 4 premium teams (8 riders)
1 Dedicated host/driver per 4 premium teams
1 dedicated passenger van per 4 premium teams
Daily 45 minute massage in your hotel
Rider bag delivered and collected from your accommodation
Personal transport between start/finish and race village and your accommodation
Complimentary Absa Cape Epic merchandise
Separate registration counter in Knysna

We will group the premium teams into groups of 4 (8 riders). Each group of 4 teams will have their own passenger van for the duration of the race. One host/driver and one masseur will be dedicated to the group of 4 teams. The masseur will give each rider a 45 minute massage per day. The time of this massage can be arranged with your masseur. The host will collect and deliver all rider bags to the hotels and drive the teams between the race village and your hotel before and after the day's riding.
It is not possible for only 1 team member to upgrade - you must upgrade as a team.

Flight to Cape town, SA from Mpls
At least $2000 up to $3700

All figures are for next years event which is already sold out. Dates are Mar. 28 to Apr 5 2008

Cost break down
Entry Fee = $2100 per team ($1050 per person)
Premium package add on = $2710 per team ($1355 per person)
Flight = at least $2000 (as much as $3700)

So
Basic total = $3145 per person
To race and be treated like a king / queen = $4400

The king / queen package with flight is cheaper than what Cory and I spent on the Transrockies.

Link
http://www.cape-epic.com/content.php?page_id=52&title=/Important_Dates_and_Fees/

As velo news says http://www.velonews.com/race/mtn/articles/13573.0.html

Yeah I know, just shut it!!!

Homie was saturday...D-train, AC and I did this. We all lived but damn we aint whole no more.

D-Train
Ya, my knees have scabs, i rode my surly today and everything seemed crooked. My chrome bag smells like stale beer from the empties kevin threw in there. So pretty standard night.

AC
My left butt cheek is completely purple. And my
left forearm is bruised and scratched from the elbow down. I know I
crashed hard on that hill top, and I think I crashed while trying to
ride down the bluff by the dog park, but I'm not sure about the rest.
Bike is fine. Ditto on the stale beer smelly bag.

Booms
Two Bruised shoulders, raw knuckles, scabs on both knees, a rear wheel that barely turns (of course that would D-train wheel on me bike that I made square), a missing seat, a high speed stop into a street sign, 12 beers and a litre of Jamison...That about sums up my Homie!!! (of course not in that order)

Before Noon